Planning for next fall’s CUBAR rally, 910 nm from San Diego to La Paz, Mexico, is well underway, with a kickoff dinner on May 18 at the San Diego Yacht Club. The rally, which is open to powerboats with a minimum range of 450 nm at 8.5 knots, is one of the major events on the West Coast every two years, and includes shore parties, overnight cruises, fishing, kayaking, dinghy explorations and all the fun and challenges involved in blue-water cruising.
This year’s rally starts on Nov. 4 and is expected to end in La Paz on Nov. 20, with stops along the way.
The name CUBAR stands for Cruise Underway to Baja Rally, and the event dates to 2007, when Bruce Kessler, the circumnavigator and film producer, held the first one, organized by the Del Ray Yacht Club. It was called FUBAR then, standing for Fleet Underway to Baja Rally, or whatever.
The last rally, in 2017, was organized by the San Diego club. It had 34 boats, ranging from a 28-foot Skipjack to an 80-foot Ocean Alexander, and the fleet was divided into three groups, according to boat speed. This year the club expects more boats, with a cutoff of 50 because of slip limitations along the way. Members of the SDYC have first preference, but the rally is open to everyone. So far, the smallest boat registered is 45 feet; the largest, 80 feet.
The first stop is in Ensenada, where everyone clears Customs and takes part in a welcoming party on shore. Then there’s the longest leg, 282 nm, to Turtle Bay. Other stops include Magdalena Bay and San Jose del Cabo.
Going south, the fleet enjoys following seas for a comfortable ride. And the concept of a rally, with many other boats, offers safety in numbers and experience. There also will be mechanical, communications and medical personnel on the trip. Read more:
